WHAT IS THE SOPHIENBURG?

Book: War Between the States, Participants from Comal County, Texas

April is Confederate History Month. An exhibit on the Civil War in Comal County is being planned that will utilize some of the wealth of information stored away in the Archives. Many people don’t think or know that our little county had quite an important role in the Confederacy here in Texas.

If you or your family has photos of men from Comal County in Civil War uniform or from New Braunfels during 1860-65, letters or papers from that time, please consider loaning them to the Museum for scanning and possible use in this exhibit or donating them to the collection for safekeeping and research. We appreciate it!

Learn more about the Comal County during the U.S. Civil War.

WHAT IS THE SOPHIENBURG?

In 1845 Prince Carl of Solms-Braunfels and a group of emigrants set out from Germany to find a new home in Texas. The Prince chose a site on the Comal River because of its abundant water, lush vegetation, and "a good omen." There he and his band of pioneers founded New Braunfels.

For his personal home Prince Carl chose a hill overlooking the beginnings of the town and began his plan to build a castle on the site. His home was to be called Sophienburg — Sophie's Castle — for his fiancée, Lady Sophia, Princess of Salm-Salm. However, when he returned to Germany to bring Sophia to Texas, she refused to leave. In a move that baffles native Texans to this day, Prince Carl chose his fiancée over Texas and stayed in Germany to marry Sophia. He never returned to Texas.

Today, the Sophienburg Museum and Archives resides on the hill chosen long ago by Prince Carl.

Sophienburg Museum and Archives hours are 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Tuesday–Saturday.
Closed Sunday and Monday.